Anthony Bitetto

Anthony Bitetto
Bitetto with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2015
Born (1990-07-15) July 15, 1990 (age 34)
Island Park, New York, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Nashville Predators
Minnesota Wild
Winnipeg Jets
New York Rangers
NHL draft 168th overall, 2010
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2012–2023

Anthony Bitetto (born July 15, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He most notably played in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Early life

Bitetto grew up on Long Island, New York and was a New York Rangers fan throughout childhood.

Playing career

He was selected 168th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators before committing to a collegiate career with Northeastern University in the Hockey East conference.

On March 29, 2012, Bitetto was signed to a two-year entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators.[1] He then began his professional career in the 2012 playoffs with the Predators American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

In the 2014–15 season, his third full professional season and leading the Admirals in scoring by a defenseman, Bitetto was recalled by the Predators and made his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings in a 5–2 defeat on January 17, 2015.[2] Bitetto signed a two-year contract to stay with the Predators on February 26, 2016,[3] and he scored his first career NHL goal on March 9, 2016, in a game against the Calgary Flames.[4]

On January 9, 2018, Bitetto re-signed with the Predators.[5]

During the 2018–19 season, Bitetto appeared in 18 games before he was placed on waivers by the Predators and claimed by division rival Minnesota Wild the following day, on January 25, 2019.[6]

As a free agent from the Wild, Bitetto agreed to a one-year, two-way contract in joining his third central division club, the Winnipeg Jets, on July 2, 2019.[7] Through 51 games with the Jets in the 2019–20 season, Bitetto registered career highs with 8 assists for 8 points, plus/minus rating, and average ice time (15:10). Bitetto led the Jets in hits per game (2.84) and ranked 23rd in the NHL, as well as fifth among NHL defensemen.

On October 9, 2020, Bitetto left the Jets as a free agent, and signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers.[8] Growing up a Rangers fan, he said he was "speechless" playing in his first game as a Ranger at Madison Square Garden. During a game against the Washington Capitals on February 4, 2021, Bitetto scored his first goal as a Ranger in a 4–2 win.[9] He had gone 112 games without a goal; his last goal was on November 18, 2017.[citation needed]

During the 2021–22 season, the Rangers traded Bitetto to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Nick Merkley at the NHL trade deadline on March 21, 2022.[10]

As a free agent in the off-season, Bitetto was signed to a one-year, two-way contract, with the Florida Panthers on July 13, 2022. His signing marked a reunion with former coach Paul Maurice during his tenure with the Winnipeg Jets.[11]

After going unsigned throughout free agency, Bitetto announced his retirement on October 4, 2023.[12]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 New York Apple Core EmJHL 20 6 7 13 45 7 3 3 6 10
2007–08 New York Apple Core EmJHL 12 4 10 14 32 — — — — —
2007–08 New York Apple Core EJHL 17 2 6 8 28 — — — — —
2008–09 New York Apple Core EJHL 30 2 9 11 50 — — — — —
2008–09 Indiana Ice USHL 24 1 3 4 29 13 0 3 3 6
2009–10 Indiana Ice USHL 58 11 29 40 99 9 2 2 4 19
2010–11 Northeastern University HE 38 3 17 20 66 — — — — —
2011–12 Northeastern University HE 34 4 11 15 34 — — — — —
2011–12 Milwaukee Admirals AHL — — — — — 1 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 34 1 5 6 35 — — — — —
2012–13 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 23 1 2 3 16 — — — — —
2013–14 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 73 11 25 36 85 3 0 0 0 8
2014–15 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 70 4 26 30 96 — — — — —
2014–15 Nashville Predators NHL 7 0 0 0 7 — — — — —
2015–16 Nashville Predators NHL 28 1 5 6 19 14 0 0 0 6
2015–16 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 6 1 3 4 27 — — — — —
2016–17 Nashville Predators NHL 29 0 7 7 25 — — — — —
2016–17 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 3 1 2 3 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Nashville Predators NHL 32 1 2 3 27 — — — — —
2018–19 Nashville Predators NHL 18 0 3 3 8 — — — — —
2018–19 Minnesota Wild NHL 18 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2019–20 Winnipeg Jets NHL 51 0 8 8 32 — — — — —
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 14 1 3 4 20 — — — — —
2020–21 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 39 4 11 15 26 — — — — —
2021–22 San Jose Barracuda AHL 14 2 0 2 28 — — — — —
2022–23 Charlotte Checkers AHL 68 6 12 18 88 7 0 1 1 6
NHL totals 197 3 28 31 142 14 0 0 0 6

Awards and honors

Award Year
USHL
Clark Cup (Indiana Ice) 2009
Second All-Star Team 2010
College
Hockey East All-Rookie Team 2011

References

  1. ^ "Preds sign 2010 draftee Anthony Bitetto". Nashville Predators. March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  2. ^ "Predators debut leaves Anthony Bitetto in awe". The Tennessean. January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  3. ^ "Predators Sign Bitetto to a Two-Year Contract" (Press Release). NHL.com. February 26, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  4. ^ Bratten, Brooks (March 10, 2016). "Bitetto Scores First Goal, Preds Keep Streak Alive in OT Loss". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  5. ^ "Weber, Irwin, Bitetto sign with Predators". NHL.com. January 9, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Wild claim defenseman Anthony Bitetto off waivers from Predators". Minnesota Star Tribune. January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "Jets sign Anthony Bitetto to one-year contract". Winnipeg Jets. July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "Rangers announce six free agent signings". New York Rangers. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Walker, Mollie (February 4, 2021). "Anthony Bitetto describes 'magical' first goal as a Ranger". New York Post. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Rangers trade Anthony Bitetto to Sharks for Nick Merkley - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "Panthers agree to terms with Anthony Bitetto". Florida Panthers. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Bitetto, Anthony [@abitetto7] (October 4, 2023). "The time has arrived for me to bid farewell to the game I hold dear, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible journey I've been on..." Nashville, TN. Retrieved October 5, 2023 – via Instagram.